A councilman in western New Jersey used to be fatally shot Wednesday via an ex-colleague, consistent with native government — only one week after some other councilor used to be killed in other places within the state.
The Franklin Township Police Division mentioned officials responding to a number of 911 calls discovered 51-year-old Russell Heller shot within the parking zone of his workplace on the PSE&G power corporate. Heller, a member of the Milford Borough council, used to be pronounced lifeless on the scene via first responders.
Investigators quickly realized that Gary T. Curtis, a 58-year-old ex-staffer at PSE&G, had approached Heller within the parking zone and shot him, consistent with government.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald mentioned detectives controlled to trace down Curtis at a Bridgewater parking zone inside of a couple of hours, once they approached the car and noticed him “affected by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
Curtis used to be pronounced lifeless in a while after.
The Franklin Township Police Division famous that an investigation “stays on-going to resolve cause.” However it said that Heller’s taking pictures used to be “an remoted incident” and that the councilor “used to be the supposed goal.”
PSE&G launched a observation Wednesday pronouncing it used to be “heartbroken” and praising Heller as “an admired worker.”
“He’ll be sorely ignored via all, and our ideas are along with his circle of relatives at this hard time,” added the power corporate, which famous that it’s “providing enhance to our workers … [and] cooperating with regulation enforcement.”
The Somerset County prosecutor’s workplace informed CBS on Thursday that the taking pictures used to be now not politically motivated.
Heller’s killing got here inside of days of some other officeholder’s: Sayreville Borough Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour used to be gunned down in her automotive Feb. 1.
She used to be the primary Black individual elected to workplace within the state’s japanese Sayreville township.
Sayreville Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick mentioned at a memorial this week that Dwumfour “expectantly, with elegance and dignity, walked proudly to her seat at the dais in her signature glowing prime heels,” according to CBS.
Within the wake of the 2 killings, politicians and gun keep an eye on activists took to Twitter to provide their condolences and phone for an finish to the bloodshed.
“Early this morning, a dangerous taking pictures happened outdoor of a PSE&G facility in Franklin Township,” tweeted New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “Our ideas and prayers are with Russell Heller’s friends and family within the wake of this tragic act of gun violence.”
